Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $401k less ($159,300 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1100/mo less ($976 vs $2,076)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $60,154/yr
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,154 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than El Paso
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than El Paso
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$401k less
$159,300 vs $560,500
El Paso
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 92.6°F
Elk Grove
Median Income
$60,154
$115,864 vs $55,710/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
32% lower
189.9 vs 278.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 18.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 176,105 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 38.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 10 and Elk Grove wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from El Paso to Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $560,500 median home), income ($55,710 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Elk Grove, CA are about 957 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.